Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Background Cardiovascular disease and stroke remain leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally, with disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries. Older adults in semi-rural Nigerian communities may experience high cardiometabolic risk, yet locally specific epidemiologic data remain limited. This study estimated the prevalence and clustering of major cardiovascular risk factors among community-dwelling older adults in Abor, Enugu State, Nigeria. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 107 adults aged ≥ 60 years. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected using standardized procedures. Blood pressure and anthropometric indices were measured, and biochemical assays were performed for glycaemic and lipid indices. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg. Overweight/obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². Diabetes was defined using biochemical criteria as fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL and/or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% and was reported using an ascertainment denominator where laboratory values were available. Dyslipidaemia was defined as any of elevated total cholesterol, elevated LDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, or low HDL cholesterol. Prevalence estimates were reported with Wilson 95% confidence intervals, and associations with age and sex were examined using modified Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs). Results Of 107 participants, 57 (53.3%) were men and 50 (46.7%) women; mean age was 70.9 ± 5.8 years among those with available age data. Hypertension prevalence was 58.9% (63/107; 95% CI 49.4’-67.7), overweight/obesity was 69.2% (74/107; 95% CI 59.9–77.1), and diabetes prevalence was 67.0% (71/106; 95% CI 57.6–75.2). Any dyslipidaemia affected 72.0% (77/107; 95% CI 62.8–79.6), driven largely by low HDL cholesterol (51.4%). Risk factor clustering (≥ 2 of hypertension, overweight/obesity, and diabetes) occurred in 70.1% (75/107; 95% CI 60.8–77.9). In adjusted models, women had higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia than men (PR 1.47; 95% CI 1.14–1.90; p = 0.003), while age and sex were not significantly associated with hypertension, overweight/obesity, diabetes, or clustering (all p > 0.05). Conclusion Older adults in Abor community exhibit a substantial burden of hypertension, dysglycaemia, overweight/obesity, and dyslipidaemia, with frequent clustering of major cardiometabolic risk factors. These findings support strengthening integrated cardiovascular risk screening and prevention strategies for older adults in semi-rural Nigerian settings, with emphasis on multi-risk-factor management.</p>